Pros:
- Affordable tuition compared to other schools. ~9k for Texas residents and ~18k for out of state, per annum
- Amazing TA opportunities guaranteed to almost every MFA student. Benefits: Resident tuition qualification, Free medical insurance, 6k stipend per semester, $1892 tuition reduction per semester (paying ~6k for 2nd year and ~3k for 3rd year)
- Great faculty, also great for exploring Documentary film making.
- Film funding - 1k for pre-thesis film, 7k for thesis film (Moody Innovation Labs).
- You get a shot at making 2 top tier festival worthy films.
- Austin - home to 3 major film festivals.
- Higher chance of your film getting into SXSW.
- Great program if you also want to settle down as a professor.
- Opportunities for outside fellowships up to 28k.
- Not a lot of opportunities to work in Hollywood.
- Weaker alumni network when compared to the high ranked schools.
- International students should be prepared to go back if they do not get their movies into top tier film festivals (which makes you eligible for O1 visa : click here for more details). But you can go back without any financial obligations.
- It is not LA.